2015 04 Newsletter
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The Old Train Station News Newsletter #74 April 2015 This month’s feature article was written by a friend of the museum. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As we prepare to sit down to watch another round of playoffs, I find myself comparing today’s athletes with those of generations ago. We continue to admire the physical attributes, the skills, the statistics and the commitment to the game. It is difficult to make such comparisons as so much has changed: the rules, the training, the facilities, the coaching and much more. There are local examples of sports men and women who have made their mark during their lifetime but Jack Chisholm comes to mind as one person who was involved in athletics throughout his lifetime and who had an impact in the broader sports community. We take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution that he made to the development of sports in Antigonish, particularly in hockey. Jack was born John A. Chisholm on April 11, 1890 at Caledonia Mills, the son of John Charles Chisholm and Mary Boyle. Jack was raised with two brothers, Joseph and Angus, and two sisters, Christy and Isabella. The young family moved into town around 1891 and established themselves in a home on Main Street. The elder Chisholm had worked as a shoemaker in Caledonia Mills and would continue the trade at his new location. Jack Chisholm received his early education at the Main Street School and eventually left Antigonish to seek opportunity elsewhere. About 1911 he moved to Sandon, British Columbia, to try his hand in the silver mines. There, he became a student of hockey and developed his skills and knowledge of the game. His dedication did not go unrecognized; he was presented with a gold pocket watch inscribed as follows: “Presented to J. Chisholm by the citizens and Hockey Club of Sandon for his good work toward winning of the Cornwall Cup 1913”. That very year, Jack was called back to Antigonish. With the death of his father, he was destined to take over the family shoe business. Jack Chisholm, at age 33, married Sadie MacEachern of Cape George on January 8, 1924. Over the next few years the family grew to include thirteen children. To many, he would now be known as “Jack Shoestore.” He kept busy with business but maintained his interest in sports, including baseball, track and field, and hockey. The Antigonish Heritage Museum [email protected] or 902-863-6160 1 The game of hockey had been introduced to Antigonish in the late 1890s. The outdoor pick-up games on the salt ponds, Stewart’s dyke, and ice surfaces throughout the town and county were still number one; however, a rink near St. F. X. College and the Victoria Street curling rink were popular venues for early “organized” games. In a 1999 conversation with Roy Cunningham, he revealed that his uncle Billy Turnbull had been the leader of The Community Band and that they had provided entertainment at all the indoor games. In 1922, Rev. John R. MacDonald (later Bishop John R.), a staunch promoter of temperance in the Antigonish area, loaned his support to the LOC (League of the Cross) hockey team. Jack Chisholm was appointed captain and coach of the team; that year they won the amateur championship of Nova Scotia. They battled against Halifax Wanderers for the championship, but before a winner could be decided, the ice melted. The championship battle was renewed the following December when the Antigonish team finally won the game 2 – 1 in overtime. The Antigonish Team was described in Halifax newspapers as “the little wooden men from the little wooden town.” It is said that winning that championship was a shot in the arm to the popularity and development of hockey in Antigonish. By the 1930’s there were many hockey teams playing throughout the town, including the Firemen, The Blue Geese, the Vics, League of the Cross – and Junior hockey was making an appearance. Over the next few years, Jack utilized his hockey skills behind the bench of the Morrison School team. They played their first hockey game in January of 1931. Chisholm brought the team to Halifax for a school tournament where they had the distinction of winning two championships in one day. In the morning they won the Junior School Championship and later that day they were victorious in the Senior School championship. 1932 saw the Antigonish Hockey team under Chisholm’s direction win the Maritime Championship for their division. A proud moment, it ensured that hockey would have a prominent place in the hearts of all Antigonishers for generations to come. In 1936, at a meeting held upstairs of the Golden Glow Restaurant and Murray’s Barber Shop, it was voted 2 by members of the hockey fraternity that “Bulldogs” be adopted as the name of the Antigonish hockey team. Jack Chisholm demonstrated his talent and interest in other sporting activities too. In 1922 he was awarded the Antigonish County League Baseball trophy for his accomplishments on the field. A nine-hole golf course was laid out in 1926; Jack Chisholm was a charter member forming the Antigonish Golf and Country Club. He was indeed a man for all seasons. Through this brief sketch we recognize Jack Chisholm as an athlete and a builder with a commitment to the development of sport in Antigonish. For his contribution to community affairs and Antigonish hockey, the Town proclaimed December 8, 1974 “Jack Chisholm Day.” He died in February of 1976 at the age of 85 years. (This autographed brochure, dated 1982, was for a testimonial dinner to honor those who won that championship back in 1932. Jack Chisholm was deceased but his widow attended on his behalf.) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Recent Acquisitions The museum received a major acquisition of negatives from the Buckley Studio which operated in Antigonish for many years. Thank-you to Ken Holmes of Bible Hill. Donald C. MacLellan of Scituate, Massachusetts, donated a memoir written by his mother, Anna Josephine (MacDonald) MacLachlan, of Lanark. Dan Smith of Antigonish Rent All brought in two framed pictures of the Royal George Hotel. 3 Claire MacDonald of Dolorosa Avenue contributed an early nursing textbook from St. Martha’s School of Nursing that was used by her aunt, Josephine MacDonald, a 1925 graduate of the school. Anne Marie Chisholm of Chateauguay, Quebec, donated this late 1940s photo of the St. Joseph’s Hockey team. Pictured front, left to right: John D. MacDonald, Alex Chisholm, Wilfred (Roddie Angus) MacDonald, Joe Chisholm, Frank MacKinnon, Collie (Billy) MacDonald, Ronald (Hugh Allan) MacDonald. Pictured back: Rev. Bernard Chisholm, Francis (Hugh Allan) MacDonald, Charles MacLean, George MacInnis, Altie MacIssac, Roddie MacKinnon, Gussie MacIsaac and Arnold Murphy (coach). Anne Marie also donated a photo of the St. F. X. football team (1944) and a photo of Joseph A. Chisholm tossing the caber in 1968. Katherine Ann Chisholm of Gaspereaux Lake brought in a photo of the Heatherton School (1928) and a stocking repair kit. These “perfect run arrestors” date back to the 1940s. Back then, ladies didn’t toss their stockings because of a snag; they repaired them. 4 Upcoming Public Lecture and Exhibit In June, the Broch Research Collective at St. Francis Xavier University will be hosting Dr. George Thomson, an authority on letter analysis of headstones. Dr. Thomson will give an illustrated presentation on gravemarker lettering at the People’s Place Library on Friday, June 5th, 2015. His talk is entitled “Gravemarker Research – A Never-Ending Journey.” Dr. Thomson, a practicing typographic designer, studied at the Edinburgh College of Art, and received his doctorate from Stirling University. In the past thirty-five years, he has taught on lettering, typography, and graphic design at the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Cumbria, released more than fifteen books, and published in numerous international journals. Dr. Thomson has travelled extensively in North America and Europe, photographing and analyzing headstones. He believes that inscriptions on gravemarkers tell us more than any other part of the memorial. He recently published an article on gravemarkers in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, which discusses the impact of regional variation and Scottish influence. Dr. Thomson’s public lecture promises to be interesting and informative. His talk on June 5th is free of charge and open to all, and will begin at 7:00 pm. In conjunction with Dr. Thomson’s public lecture there will be an exhibit in the Bistro Gallery of the People’s Place Library, entitled, “Beneath the Stones”. It will feature the work of artists, Russell Jackson, Anna Syperek, and Peter Murphy. The opening reception will take place on June 5th at 6:30 pm. The public is cordially invited to attend the reception and the lecture. *These events are sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Centre for Regional Studies, Office of the Academic Vice-President, Office of the Dean of Arts, Antigonish Culture Alive, Angus L. Macdonald Library, Department of History, Department of Sociology, Department of Anthropology, and Department of Celtic Studies. -- Dr. Laurie Stanley-Blackwell Department of History, St. Francis Xavier University Nova Scotia Probate Records Are you aware that these records are online? https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2134302 New Volunteers Our organization is seeking new volunteers. If you have time, talent, and ideas that you would like to share with our organization, please let us know and we will work with you to find a place where you can contribute in a meaningful way. We value your input. 5 . The Association of Nova Scotia Museums Recently the ANSM organization offered a two day Museums 101 workshop at our Museum.